Dancing with the Stars's Hines Ward Involved In Police Mix-Up

Dancing with the Stars's Hines Ward Involved In Police Mix-Up

Pittsburgh Steeler Hines Ward was held at gunpoint in a police mix-up this morning.

The Dancing with the Stars contestant, who is in the top five with Kirstie Alley, was a passenger in his girlfriend's car when they were pulled over in Hollywood at 1:30 a.m. Thursday morning. The Associated Press reports cops ordered Ward out of the car and slapped handcuffs on him, all with their guns drawn.

It turns out Ward's girlfriend had "gone somewhere, misparked [her car], reported it stolen, and found it later, but never notified police when it turned up," according to a police spokeswoman.

Special technology identified the car as stolen when it passed by a patrol car. That's when police say they pulled over Ward. They are not identifying the woman, but do say that she isn't his dance partner Kym Johnson.

Now some bloggers are wondering whether it was racial profiling: "Handcuffs and gun point are pretty standard for a stolen car. The question is, what made them run the plates?" and "Cue the 'Racial profiling.'"

But police say racial profiling had nothing to do with it. Ward's spokesman states: "It was a misunderstanding the police were just doing their job. He is fine and it's over."

Ward was released without being arrested. He was described as "very cooperative."